Kerala: Women employees stripped at private firm, complaint lodged

A lady staff mustered courage to complaint fearing that they were stripped in a room which was under CCTV surveillance.

A lady staff mustered courage to complaint fearing that they were stripped in a room which was under CCTV surveillance. (Source: Reuters photo/file)

Women employees at a private firm in the Special Economic Zone in Kochi were allegedly stripped after their lady supervisors wanted to know who had left a used sanitary napkin in toilet. Police have registered a case against two lady supervisors on charges of outraging the modesty of women. The state women’s commission has intervened in the incident.

The incident was reported at Asma Rubber Private Limited, which is functioning at the Kochi SEZ. As per the complaint, the incident took place on December 10 when the lady supervisors found used sanitary napkin in the bathroom. As their grilling did not help find the woman who used the napkin, the supervisors decided to go for a strip search of women employees aged below 50. Thus, 45 women were subjected to the humiliating examination to find who was menstruating.

The complaint was moved four days back, but the police registered the case only on Saturday. Thrikkakara station house inspector T K Josy said the complaint was handed over to the women police cell. “We have got the case transferred from the local police on Sunday. We would begin the probe only on Monday after recording the statements of the workers and their supervisors,’’ women police cell said.

Kerala women’s commission member Lissy Jose said the commission has sought stern action against the supervisors in the humiliating incident. She said the panel would seek an explanation from the company management, although police said there was no complaint against the management.

Representative of Asma Rubber Private Limited was not available for comment.